Celestial globe



April 12, 1932.

W. E. JOHNSON CELESTIAL GLOBE 3 Shets-Sheec 1 Filed June 3, 1931 MJQ 6% ww 7% a? v 7 April 12,- 1932 w. E. JOHNSON CELESTIAL GLOBE Filed June 3, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 12, 1932. w. E. JOHNSON CELESTIAL GLOBE s Shee ts-Sheet 3 Filed June 5,. 1951 Patented Apr. I2, 1932] A 1' T y t UNITED" STAT-as PATENT oFFicE WILLIAM E. JOHNSON, or .oHIoAG I LINoIs," assrelvoa T RAND MCNALLY & GOM-' PANY, or cnroaeo, ILLINOIS,1A CORPORATION or'ILLmoIs onLEs'rIAL G ost: I

I 7' Application filed June 3, 1931. Serial No. 541,893.

This invention relates to improvements in celestial globes and more especially, sucha' globe and mounting therefor adapted foruse as astar finder. V Among the features of-wmy invention is the provision of an educational device for rectifying a celestial globe so that the stars represented thereon maybe quickly and easily correlated with the corresponding stars in the heavens, for any time and place. That is, the stars on the globe will face or point to the corresponding stars in the sky and -a View of the globe will enable an observer toslocate and identify the stars and constellations to be seen in the heavens.

I shall not attempt to enumerate and point out all the multitude of uses that may be made of the device. It will bei seen, how ever, that its construction and operation are extremelysimple, enabling a user. to set the globe quickly in its proper position.

.Among the features of my inv'ention'is I the provision of a meridian ring in combination with an horizon ring forlorienting the 'axis'of the globewith the axis of the earthat any latitude. -Another feature is the provision of a date scale and an hour scale in combination with the globe,'in'such amanner that when any date and hour are brought togetherin the proper way, thestars' 1 represented on the globe willhbe correlated with the corresponding stars in the heavens as they will appear onthat hour and date, it beingassumed that .the axis of the globe is roperly vadjusted. I

( ther features and advantages of my inventionwill appear-more fully as I proceed" with my specification. o

In those forms of devices embodying the;

features of my invention shownin the accompanying drawings' Figure lisaview'in side elevation; Fig.

' 2 is a top plan view; Figs. 3vand 4 are similar views showing a modified form; and Figs. 5

and 6 are similar views showing another t modified form. a i o I shall first describe the form ofidevice shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As hereshown, the

celestial globe is indicated by 10 and con ,Numeral 13 indicates an horizon .ring

as indicated by 11,11. The globe 10 is roposition. The support 14: may be carried by a semi-circular. member 16 mounted ona 7 suitable standard or support 17 and carryingthe horizon ring 13 at its upper ends.

.The'meridiair ring 12is provided with two 90 inverted. latitude scales. with zero degrees at the 'north .N.; The twoscalesoccupy adjacent quadrants; and are divided into 90 each way from the common :zero point at the North pole so that the two 90 marks are separated by 1809. Onescale is used for north latitude settings and is so marked, and the other scale. is used for south latitude. settings and is similarly marked.

'This arrangement of the inverted latitude scales on the meridian ring has several distinct advantages. It permits both north and south latitude settings at one point on the horizon ring, namely, thenorth horizon, thus polar axis,indicated by avoidingfconfusion that otherwise might arise from makingnorth latitude settings at one point. and south latitude settings at an- This arrangement also prevents confusion betweenthe north latitude andsouth latithe globe, "since when the meridian ring is placed vertically in the horizon ring with tude scales asfrequently happens when they areboth on the same side of the axis with as the common mark. The arrangement disclosed also permits the placing of the words North latitude close to one 90-mark and South latitude close to the other 90? mark,

.the.words"North latitude placed adjacent the'north' horizon marking, these two parts tains thereon representations of the :stars, I00

are in proper arrangement for correct functioning of the globe.

For north latitude settings, the north celestial pole is elevated above the north horizon of a given place the same number of degrees that the place is north of the equator, that is, the numberof degrees corresponding exactly to the north latitude of the place. For south latitude settings the north celestial pole is depressed below the northern horizon the same number of 'degreesthat the place is south of the equator, that. is, the number of degrees corresponding exactly to the south latitude of the place. (.Thus,.the south celestial pole is elevated above the southern horizon for places in south latitude). By the use of the inverted latitude 1 scales arranged in the manner heretofore described, therefore, the degrees of 1 latitude may be used directly for setting. the meridian. If these latitude scales were not inverted. it would be necessary to subtract thelatitude from: 90 to get the required value for setting the meridian ring.

The meridian ring containing the globe is inserted vertically in the horizon ring, which is notched to receive it, asabove described. The meridian ring rests upon the support I l and is so arranged that one-half or.180of the meridian ring isabove the upper level of the horizon ring. As shown, the graduated portion above the horizon ringwith the marking north latitude onthe meridian ringadjacent the marking Northern horizon on the horizon ring.

The horizon ring is supported in 8.3h01lzontal position, as above described, .andas marked at 90 intervalsto represent the cardinalpoints of the horizon, which are accordingly labeled .Northern ..-horizoxi, Eastern horizon, Southernihorizon and \Vestern horizon. WVith the horizon. ring thus marked with the cardinal points, it may be oriented with the corresponding cardinal points on the observers horizon, thereby orienting the axis of the celestial globe with the axis of the earth.

The upper surface of the horizon ring'may contain the names of cities with their latitudes, as indicated by 18.

For the purpose of illustration, .1 have shown the globe in Fig. 1 as set for use at Chicago, Illinois. This place is substantially 42 north latitude and it will beseen that the globe is inclined so that 42 on the north latitude scale is substantially on a level with the horizon ring at the northern horizon.

I shall now describe the datescale and hour scale. These are provided in combination with the globe, in such amanner'that when any date and hour are brought together, the stars will be correlatedwith the corresponding stars in the heavens as they will appear at that hour and .datepassumin the axis of the globe to be properly adjusted.

afterwards. where one scale is fixed on the horizon ring, as shown in Fig; 6, the otherscale is located r ferred to and mounting. therefor including,

regions, or .in any intermediate positions that may be convenient or desirable.

In the form of device illustrated in Figs.

1an'd'2,the dateand hour scales are attached at the'north polar extremity, the hour scale, as indicated by 19, being fixed with reference to the meridian ring by means of lugs 19 on either side thereof, or other suitable device, and the date scale, as indicated by 20, being cattachedxto the globe so that itwilL rotate therewith.

In the form of device shown in 'Figs.3 and 4, the sequence of dates and hours isnreversed andthedatescale, as indicated by;:Q0, is fixed with reference to the meridian ring and the hour scale, as indicated by 19.",is attached to the globe so that it will rotate therewith. As shown in this form, the date-scale isshown on a ring which isattaohed to'the meridian ring 12. The hour scale, as indicated by: 19*, lies substantially on the equatorial ring ofv the globe. It is obvious that these scales may be reversed in sequence-of dates and *hours and in such case, the :hour L scale would be placed on the stationary ring 20, and the date scale on the equatorial ning of the globe.

In that form of device shown in Figs. 5' and 6, the .fixedscale 21 is attached to the horizon ring 13. Such fixed scale is here shown as ,being a date scale, although the hour. scale could be fixed, if. desired. When only one fixed scale is thus used at the horizon ring, the sphere must be adjusted for, the correct date and hour, while the axis is in a vertical position, and theadjustment for latitude made It is to be understood that on the equatorial ring of the'globe. f-For example, in the device shown in Figs-5 and-6,

"where. the date scale is fixed on the'horizon ring, as indicated by 21, the hour scale'would be on the equatorial ring of the globe, indicated by 22.

\V-hile I have shown and :described oertain embodiments of .my invention, it is'to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the' construction and arrangement may be made withoutrdeparting from the spiritand scope of the inventionas disclosed in the'appended claims, in which it is my intention to'claim-all 1 novelty inherent in. my invention'as broadly as permissible, in view of the 'prior art.

What I regard as new,'and desire tosecure ybv LettersPatent, is:

19A celestial globeofthe characterrean horizon ring, a meridian ring rotatably mounted in the horizon ring, and two inverted latitude scales on the meridian ring extendingvfrom the North Polar axis in opposite directions to the equatorial ring, said scale adjacent the northern horizon being indicated as the north latitude scale and the ported; and co-operating hour and date scales concentric with respect to the axis of the globe, one being fixed with respect to the globe mounting and the other rotatable with the globe.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the hourv and date scales are located adjacent a polar axis.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim, 3, in which the hour and date scales are located adjacent the horizon.

In witnesswhereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of June, 1931.

WILLIAM E. JOHNSON. 

